Israel kinney



No. 625,932. Patented May 30, I899. L KINNEY.

BOOT 0R SHOE CLEANER.

(Application filed. Aug. 8, 1898.)

(No Model.)

BY J

THE nonms PETERS cu, Pucrroumu. vqnsumawn o. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISRAEL KINNEY, OF BURFORD, CANADA.

BOOT OR SHOE CLEANER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 625,932, dated May 30, 1899. Application filed August 8, 1898. Serial No. 688,033- (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISRAEL KINNEY, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Burford, county of Brant, Province of Outario, Canada, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Boot or Shoe Cleaners; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has for its object a new and useful boot and shoe cleaner or combination door-mat and scraper; and it consists of the construction, combination, and arrangement of devices hereinafter specified and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the scraper in an open position. Fig. 3 is a View in section on the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view illustrating a modification of the invention; and Fig. 5 is a view in section on the line 5 5, Fig. 4.

The object of myinvention is to provide a boot and shoe cleaner of superior simplicity, utility, and economy.

I carry out my invention as follows:

As illustrated in the drawings, A represents a suitable flexible materialas cloth, for example-although I do not limit myself solely to any particular flexible material through which the body of the mat may be constructed.

B B represent one or more scrapers, two scrapers being indicated in the drawings, the two scrapers being made, preferably, of metal and having a jointed connection at adjacent endsas, for example, by a link bthe two scrapers being preferably constructed with ears I) for the connection of the link therewith. I would have it understood, however, that I do not limit myself to any specific form of making a jointed connection of the two parts B B of the scraper. The parts B B of the scrapers are provided at their opposite ends with fastening devices of any suitable construction. As shown, one of the scrapers a key b to engage in the slot 12 B is provided with an car 19 constructed with an elongated slot b while the opposite scraper B is constructed with an car 11 provided with Any other fastening device, however, may be employed within the scope of my invention.

The scrapers B B (shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3) are shown constructed with marginal flanges or ribs B B forming scraper blades, said blades united by an ysuitable web or connectin g-brace B The blades preferably also project toward the flexible material or fabric, as well as outward therefrom, so as to more effectually bind said material in between the two scrapers B B. It will be observed by reference to Fig. 1 particularly that the flexible I cloth or other material is gathered or held in between the two scrapers B in a creased, crimped, or gathered condition, the two scrapers B forming clamping-jaws, binding said material therebetween in the condition above described, the fastening holding the scrapers or clamping-jaws in secure position with the flexible material therebetween.

In the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the scrapers or clamping-jaws are formed with a central longitudinal scraperblade B projecting outward and, preferably, also inward toward the flexible material, as shown, saidscrapers or jaws, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, being formed with lateral projections, (indicated at B said projections being of sufficient dimensions to effectually prevent the device from turning or tilting in use. The scraperblades B of the two clamping-jaws or scrapers also, preferably, project inward or toward the fabric to more effectually hold the fabric in place. I prefer that the lateral projections B should be-connected with the central scraper-blade B, with ribs 6 flush with the corresponding edge of the blade Bflwhich will prevent the device from tilting. By holding the flexible material thus in a creased,

crimped, or gathered condition between the clamping-jaws it is obvious that folds or gatherings are formed in the flexible material which stand upward from the flat surface of said material, said folds or gatherings materially assisting in cleaning boots and shoes, while the scrapers also effectually serve their purpose. I would have it understood that one or both of the clamping-jaws,which hold the flexible fabric therebetween, may have an elongated ridge or scraper-blade. By constructing both said jaws with one or more scraper-blades it is evident that the device is reversible, and the combined mat and scraper may be laid down either side up.

By means of the scraper-jaws and the flexible material the clamping-jaws may readily be disengaged therefrom.

Commercially the clamping scraper-jaws may be put upon the market by themselves, and the purchaser may secure between the jaws in the manner above specified an old piece of carpet or other material which may be on hand.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is- 1. A boot and shoe cleaner consisting of clamping-jaws, and a flexible material held in a gathered, creased or crimped condition between said jaws, one of said jaws having a projecting blade or ridge extending transversely of the flexible material, and lateral projections longitudinal of said flexible material to prevent the scraperfrom tilting when in use, substantially as set forth.

2. A boot and shoe cleaner consisting of clamping-jaws, and flexible material held in a gathered, creased or crimped condition between said jaws, said jaws being provided with a projecting scraper-blade or ridge whereby the device is reversible, substantially as set forth.

3. The scraper clamping-jaws herein described,having a jointed connection at adjacent ends, and a fastening device to engage the opposite ends of said jaws, one of said jaws having a projecting blade or ridge to prevent the scraper-blade from tilting, substantially as set forth.

at. The clamping jaws herein described, having a jointed connection at adjacent ends, and a fastening device to engage the opposite ends of said jaws, each of said jaws provided with a ridge projecting inward toward the corresponding ridge to clamp a flexible material therebetween, substantially as set forth.

5. The scraper clamping-jaws herein described, having'a jointed connection at adjacent ends, and means to engage the opposite ends of said jaws, each of said jaws provided with a ridge projecting inward the one toward the other to engage a flexible material therebetween, and one of said jaws provided with a scraper-blade or ridge projecting from the outer or opposite side thereof, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

ISRAEL KINNEY.

\Vitnesses:

W. P. SUMNER, N. S. WRIGHT. 

